Believe it or not, there was once a time where one might walk in hallways submerged completely in water and not drown. People would come and walk across these glass hallways to gaze upon the underwater scenery, to watch aquatic life swim right over them like birds flying across the sky. Back then, such places were by no means fantastic. It was, in fact, considered quite mundane. What's so interesting about watching a bunch of fishes anyway? Even so, she was oddly fond of the place.

The young man wandered through the glass hallways, his eyes open to spot his missing companion. A new attraction was opened that day and there were plenty of visitors. The young man had gotten careless and was carried away by the flood of tourists.

Unable to spot his companion within the sea of man, the young man shrugged and moved on. Of course, he hadn't given up on finding his friend. He knew very well where she would be heading towards.

He opened up the pamphlet in his hands and found the map pointing towards the new attraction, a new section showing off deep-sea creatures. After navigating his way there, he spotted a silver-haired woman with a checkered pattern scarf at the sea devil section. It must have been feeding time, as she was watching a sea devil gobble down a small fish after attracting it with the bioluminescent rod growing out of its head.

"Sarah! There you are," the young man called out.

Having heard him, the silver-haired woman took her golden eyes off of the sea devil and turned towards the young man.

"Good of you to have arrived," she said matter-of-factly.

"Sorry for worrying you."

"I wasn't worried," she replied coldly.

From her tone, the young man could tell that she meant what she said and it made him a little sad. However, that was the nature of her being, so he thought best to not think too deeply about it.

"Hey," Sarah called out, while the young man was in thought.

"What is it?"

"This one has a male with it," she said as she pointed towards the sea devil she was looking at.

"Really, where?" The young man leaned in for a closer look.

"You see that sticking out of the sea devil's body? That's the male. It had fused itself with the female and became a chimera."

"Oh wow, that bizarre! Kind of morbid even."

"In a sense, you could say it's rather clingy..." Sarah then turned towards the young man, gazing into him with her brilliant, gold eyes. "Reminds me of you."

"Hey! I resent that!"

While it's true that of all her 'children', the young man was seen with Sarah the most often, though he was far from clingy. At least, he hoped that he wasn't.

Sarah put on a tiny smile. "I jest," she said.

The young man gave up a sigh. Was this her way of making up for the cold comment she made earlier, he wondered, about how she wasn't worried? If that was the case, then she didn't have to. He understood well enough her nature, that he can't expect her to act or feel like any other person would. Even so, he appreciated the attempt. It showed that despite how different she was from the rest of them, she still wanted to maintain her connection with her 'children'.

"Hey," she called out to him again.

"What is it?" he dutifully replied.

"Which do you prefer, to live in darkness forever or follow the light only for it to gobble you up?"

The young man quirked an eyebrow. He wasn't quite sure what she was on about but he had a feeling that she wasn't just talking about the fish.

"I'm not a fan of darkness, so I suppose I'll follow the light." Still, despite not understanding what she's getting at, he humored her. He was used to it, her presenting these esoteric inquiries before him.

"Even if you'll end up being devoured?"

"I'll try my best to not have that happen."

"........."

Sarah's silence was heavy. Even with the bustling crowd around them, her silence weighed on the young man.

"What?" he spoke out when he could bear it no longer.

"At times I think I spoil you too much, spared you from too much."

"What's that supposed to mean," the young man asked, frowning. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, you're wonderful, and perhaps that's why I..."

"Hm?"

"Never mind," Sarah began moving from the sea devils. "Come, follow your light, let's see where it shall lead you."

A rush of second-hand embarrassment flushed upon the young man's face. He frowned, wishing that the woman before him had a little more tact when it came to her choice of words in public places. Still, he followed her nonetheless. He'll follow her to the very end. Even if he ultimately learns to regret it.

***

End of Chapter 53